Hillary Clinton launches 1001 Inventions California

25th May 2011. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, officially opened an award-winning exhibition about the scientific achievements of Muslim Civilization at the California Science Center in Los Angeles today. The 1001 Inventions exhibition, which has already attracted more than one million visitors during the past year, landed at California’s most popular museum, at a VIP launch day attended by LA County Sheriff Lee Baca and Ambassadors from LA-based foreign Consulates.

Speaking via video, Secretary Clinton praised the work of the 1001 Inventions brand for “celebrating a millennium of science and innovation in the Muslim world,” and described the launch of the exhibition as “an exciting day.”

During her speech, Mrs. Clinton remarked that “the Muslim world has a proud history of innovators” and highlighted the achievements of people like Fatima Al-Fihri, who founded the world’s first modern university, and master engineer Al-Jazari who created the crank mechanisms that drive every plane, train and automobile on the planet.

1001 Inventions exhibition is open at the California Science Center
from 27th May till 31st December 2011Click here for more information...

The 1001 Inventions exhibition is currently on a five-year global tour, sponsored by ALJ Community Initiatives. Following blockbuster runs in London, Istanbul and New York, it will open at the prestigious California Science Center, in Los Angeles, on the 27th of May 2011 for a seven-month run. The exhibition reveals the forgotten history of men and women, from a variety of faiths and backgrounds, whose contributions to the advancement of scholarship and technology during the Middle Ages helped pave the way for the European Renaissance. This period of history from the 7th century to 17th century is commonly – though erroneously — referred to as the “Dark Ages.”

The 1001 Inventions was recently crowned “Best Touring Exhibition” of the year at the annual Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards in London – considered by many to be the “Oscars” of the Museum world – fighting off stiff competition from some of the world’s biggest names in exhibitions.

Maurice Coles from FSTC speaking at the launch of 1001 Inventions at the California Science Center

Full Text of Secretary Clinton’s Speech

“I’m delighted to send greetings to each of you at this year’s 1001 Inventions, celebrating a millennium of science and innovation in the Muslim world. This exhibition honors the remarkable accomplishments of Muslims throughout history. From a woman who founded a University in the ninth century, to a thirteenth century inventor and mechanical engineer, to a surgeon whose writings influenced European medicine for hundreds of years, and so many more.

And of course, we’re looking at the impact of technology in the Muslim world right now as young people throughout the Middle East and North Africa find new ways to use social networking to get organized and to express their aspirations. Connection technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity. A platform through which everyone, from farmers to students to entrepreneurs, can exchange ideas and hatch plans for the world’s next great invention.

But technology does not decide the future. People do. So as this exhibition shows, the Muslim world has a proud history of innovators. Now is the time to tap in to that legacy to harness the power of science and technology, and to create new pathways to prosperity. This is an exciting day and thank you for letting me share it with you.”

Sheriff Baca of the County of Los Angeles (left) receiving the 1001 Inventions book from Maurice Coles of 1001 Inventions and CE4tf (right).

About 1001 Inventions

1001 Inventions is a global brand that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the ‘Golden Age’ of Muslim civilization and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world. This period lasted approximately 1000 years from the 7th century onwards. The 1001 Inventions global touring exhibition and the educational products that accompany the exhibition all highlight the scientific and technological achievements made by men and women, of different faiths and cultures, who lived in or were connected with broader Muslim civilization.

Originally funded by the British government and launched in the United Kingdom in 2006, 1001 Inventions was created by the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC). FSTC is a British-based non-profit, international network of the world’s leading academics with expertise in the history of science and technology. Both 1001 Inventions and FSTC are non-religious, apolitical organizations and have received support from various arms of the British government, the Wellcome Trust and the British Science Association. Prior to its launch in London in January 2010, the content of 1001 Inventions was rigorously reviewed by its inaugural host, the London Science Museum.

About Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI)

The global tour of the 1001 Inventions exhibition is sponsored by ALJ Community Initiatives, which is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the ALJ Group - a Toyota automobiles distributor in 13 different countries. ALJCI plans and operates numerous global programs, such as poverty-alleviation initiatives, artistic and educational projects and technology innovation grants, including a long history of scholarships for students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ALJCI is the global sponsor of the 1001 Inventions exhibition and its international tour.